Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage
Introduction
Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).
Real-Time Updates
Formation Lap Time
The formation lap has started.
Circuit Details
We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator informs us.
Countdown
The countdown is on.
Racer Positions
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.
Interview Updates
Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Driver Comments
"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
Team Standings
It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Past Performance
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.
Sprint Race Value
Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.
